Relay



March 25 1924. 1,488,134

1.. E. RICHMOND I ZZZ/22201".

y WTNW March 25, 1924. 1,488,134

L. E. RICHMOND RELAY Filed June 1, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet- 2 &

v ill/7177] I Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS E. RICHMOND, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE AUTOCALL COMPANY, OF SHELBY, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

RELAY.

Application filed June 1,

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, 'LoUIs E. RICHMOND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Guyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Relays, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to relays, such as are used for transmitting impulses or electrical effects from one electric circuit to another. The object of the invention is to provide a very simple relay that can be made at low cost and which includes a relatively small number of parts so that it is not liable to get out of order in service, and also a relay in which the contact operating member travels in a curved path so that the contacts can be made to engage with a wiping movement to not only cause them to settle or adjust themselves into the propor contacting relation, but also cause said contacts to be self-cleaning and avoid the collection of oxides or the effects of corrosion.

A further object of the invention is to provide a relay embodying an electromagnet and an armature having swinging movement opposite the magnet pole and in the same plane as the axis of said pole, the contact effecting member being connected directly to the armature to simplify the construction.

Futher objects of the invention are in part obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of one form of relay embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation on the line 22, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, the contacts being closed; Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the relay in open position; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view on the line 44, Fig. 2; and Fi 5 is a cross section on the line 55, Fig. 2. i

The relay shown in the drawings comprises a base plate or body 1 made of suitable insulating material, such as slate or the like. On said base is mounted an electromagnet of suitable form for actuating the switch member. Said magnet comprises a coil 2 surrounding one leg or pole 3 of a U-shaped core, the two poles being connected b the base member 4. The core is preferably of laminated form to concentrate the magnetic flux. The laminations of 1920. Serial No. 385,677.

the core are preferably held between side members 5 of a U-shaped form, said members having legs or posts 6 extending outwardly from the base beyond the ends of the magnet poles, said posts forming supports for the arn'iature carrying members, as will appear. The side frame members are suitably connected to the base 1, such as by being provided with ears '7 through which the clamping screws 8 are passed.

Opposite the electromagnet is mounted an armature 9 which may be of laminated form but is shown as formed of a solid piece of magnetizable material. This armature extends vertically across the space between the two poles 3 so as to bridge the gap in the magnetic circuit and also extends below the lower pole 3 and through the space between the two' lower posts 6 of the side frame members. It is mounted to swing in a vertical plane through the two pole members, for which purpose it is pivotally connected at the points 10 to two U-shaped blocks 11 mounted to turn upon pins 12 extending across between the pairs of frame posts (3. The two blocks 11 are of similar form. In other words, the distance between the pins 10 and 12 of each block is the same, but the two blocks are not parallel, pivots 10 being farther apart than the pivots 12. The purpose of this arrangement will appear hereinafter.

Fig. 4; shows in detail the mounting for the blocks 11. As illustrated, each of the side frame posts 6 is pierced to provide a pair of apertures 13, and outside of said frame posts are located blocks 1% provided at their upper ends with cavities 15 to receive the ends of pins 12. Between the posts 6 is a spacing tube or sleeve 16, which, at its opposite ends, abuts leaf spring members 1? extending outwardly along the inner faces of the frame posts 6. By screwing up the clamping bolt 18 the two blocks 14 are drawn together until they exert a clamping effect upon the ends of pins 12 and therefore confine said pins without permitting them to turn. The parts are so proportioned that the outer ends of springs 17 have slight play between the frame posts 6 and the ends of the blocks 11, and as their tendency is to spring forwardly toward each other, they exert a slight retarding effect upon the turning or swinging motion of the blocks 11; and as the result of pressure of blocks 14 on the 20 the u (is, as at 1 5 the pivnber end c was OI :11 con- 12 k. and

O OPP/j L 102 L a member 3e swung J ccntact 7 H19 combination of relatively selves t0 the s stationary contacts, an electromagnet, a plurality of pivotally mounted blocks, and an armature member lying approximately normal to the axis of said electromagnet and having pivotal connection with said blocks so that it can be swung bodily with relation to said stationary contacts.

4. In a relay, the combination of relatively stationary contacts, an electromagnet, a plurality of pivotally mounted blocks, an armature member carrying contacts and having pivotal connection with said blocks so that it can be swung bodily relative to said stationary contacts, said blocks being out of parallel so that said armature contacts will first engage said stationary contacts at an angle and then Wipe over the same.

5. In a relay, the combination of relatively stationary contacts, an electromagnet, a block pivotally mounted upon a horizontal axis, an armature member having pivotal connection at one point with said block and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, and means for freely supporting said armature at another point so that it will swing bodily relative to said contacts, said block occupying a position off of dead center when said electromagnet is energized.

6. In a relay, the combination of relatively stationary contacts, an electromagnet, a plurality of blocks pivotally mounted upon horizontal axes, and an armature member having pivotal connection with said blocks so that it can be swung bodily in a vertical plane toward and from said contacts, said blocks being out of parallel with each other.

7. In a relay, the combination of relatively stationary contacts, an electromagnet, a block pivotally mounted upon a horizontal axis, an armature member having pivotal connection at one point with said block and adapted to swing in a vertical plane, means for freely supporting said armature at another point so that it will swing bodily relative to said contacts, said block occupying a position oil of dead center when said electromagnet is energized, and means tending to retract said armature from said magnet, whereby said armature will automatically drop to inactive position when the magnet is de-energized.

8. In a relay, the combination of relatively stationary contacts, a vertically disposed U-shaped frame, an electromagnet in said frame, and an armature member having swinging connection with the arms of said frame and adapted to swing in a vertical plane relative to said contacts.

9. In a relay, the combination of relatively stationary contacts, a vertically disposed U-shaped fr me, an electromagnet in said frame, an armature member having swinging connection with the arms of said frame and adapted to swing in a vertical plane relative to said contacts, and cushioning means between said armature and its support.

10. In a relay, the combination of relatively stationary contacts, a vertically disposed U-shaped frame, an electromagnet in said frame, an armature carrying a contact member for co-opcration with said stationary contacts, and a spring connection between said a inatnre and its contact member, said armature having swinging connection with the arms of said frame and adapted to swing in a vertical plane toward and from said electromagnet, said spring tending to normally retract said armature from said electromagnet.

11. In a relay, the combination of relatively stationary contacts, a vertically disposed U-shaped frame, an electromagnet in said frame, an armature carrying a cont-act member for co-operation with said stationary contacts, a spring connection between said armature and its contact member, said armature having swinging connection with the arms of said frame and adapted to swing in a vertical plane toward and from said electromagnet, said spring tending to nor mally retract said armature away from said electromagnet, and means for protecting said spring member.

12. In a relay, the combination of rela tively stationary contacts, a vertically disposed U-shaped frame, an electromagnet in said frame, an armature member having swinging connection with the arms of said frame and adapted to swing in a vertical plane into and out of engagement with said contacts, and frictional means eifective upon said armature to retard its motion toward and away from said electromagnet.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LOUIS E. RICHMOND. 

